More students, not enough dorms

IOWA CITY - The University of Iowa could see another record-breaking freshman class this year. The University expects an incoming freshman class of just over 4,500 students.

As the University of Iowa freshman population goes up, Residence Life Manager, Greg Thompson, said they are falling short in one important area.

"We're actually facing a shortage for the number of beds we have for our students. It's a problem that has been emerging over the last couple years as the freshman classes get bigger," Thompson said.

Around 90 percent of first year UI students live in one of 10 dorms. But Thompson says the demand isn't just from freshman.

"Over the last couple years, we have seen the numbers of our returning students increase. They want to be close to central campus and they like some of the options available for living close to campus," Thompson said.

David Koser, a junior at the UI, is living in the dorm for his third year.

"It's just easier. I don't have to clean anything, everything's done for me so I can focus on what's really important," Koser said.

This was the first year the University had to put out a deadline for signing up for residence halls. In years past, students could sign up the week before classes and most likely get a spot.

"We did have to close our accepting of contract a little earlier this year then we have in previous years, because of the shortage of bed space we were going to have," Thompson said.

Last year, the University started working with an apartment complex called "The Lodge" to house additional students, mostly upperclassman and transfers.

Even though Koser is a junior he wanted to live in the actual dorms. "I signed up early and got what I wanted," Koser said.

But for this fall, some extra rooms in one apartment complex isn't enough. "This year as numbers increase, we needed to find another apartment complex," Thompson said.

All students will have a place to stay this upcoming year. But the university is preparing for the same problem in the future. "We are in the process of planning to build a new residence hall that hopefully will be coming online in fall of 2015," Thompson said. The residence hall manager said he thinks a lot of people are noticing the issue.

"Lot's of folks understand a need for more campus housing and so lots of folks are getting behind the push to get the new residence hall to become a reality," Thompson said.